Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-01-14
AN OLD.FASHIONED CUSTO
Pleasant Features of the House,
Warming of our Ancestors

Warming OF our Ancestors.
The old fashioned custom, whenever
a new house was built, of celebrating
the occasion with what was. called
rousing house-warming grew out of
hearty recognition of the fact that, even
after architect carpenter, mason. and
decorator had done their best. the house
was still no fit place for human beings
to live IN till all the rooms in il had
been set aglow, not merely with fires
in every chimney-place, but with faces
radiant with happiness and hearts
throbbng with love and cordiality. Till
that was done the building was felt to
be mere affair of brick, mortar, lum-
Der, and nails. and no more like n true
abode than dead body is like living.
loving man or woman. IL is 4 pity that
so many of these old customs have been
given up. for they served To emphasize
from the outset. and in picturesque
way, never afterward 10 be forgotten.
ideas that always ought to remain fresh
and warm in the mind. Like chrsten-
ing the baby, this christening the house
was religious act of defeating it to
I HlpH ana DcautlIul emu.
The man is poor churl of "A fellow who
having home however humble. does
not feel that one of the happiest Of all
life privileges is that of playing the
most IN 1t. SO far rs the house goes.
1t ought to enable him to sympathize
with what must be the highest blessed
ness OIL deity itself. True, il is not the
wide, glorious universe, with its starry
heavens, mountains, seas, lakes. and
groves, but still, though a small thing.
IL Is his own, and gives him something
royal to bcStow on others-a warm well
come, the contest seat by the fire. the
best cheer he can command on the
table, and dainty, springy, inviting
bed to sleep in. No wonder. then.
the word hospitality has in all ages Sc
cured itself such fond, nesting place
IN the human breast, for never is man
or woman seen TO more advantage than
under the respect of truly cordial host
or hostess. Now, there is n great deal
of this kind of hospitality in the world.
and no end Of the happiest recollec.
tons of a long lifetime are bound M
with delightful! experiences of hours.
days, AMI weeks spent in just this sun
ny atmosphere. But ought not so es-
sentially generous an idea as this of
hospitality TO have still wider and
more generous Interpretation put on it?
No doubt 1t is fine thing to make
guest welcome TO the firesde. table.
armchair, and sleeping room, but is not
Il great deal more than this essential in
plcturlnG the full characteristics OF the
IDEAL host and hostess? The essential
marx OF hospitality is, of course, quick
ana delicate perception of the wants of
The guest.togcthcr with delight i'm minis
terlng TO them. If he is hungry. feed
MN; II cold, warm him; if sleepy, speed
HIM to bed. But how about entertain
ing his ideas and sentiments. as well rs
ms senses, and giving these, likewise.
4 generous welcome? The host or
hostess that knows how to bring these
inner and shycr viSitantS out. and smile
upon and cheer them as they begin to-
How, will not such one warm and cx-
Ailerate the spirits of the sojourner un-
her their roof rs no mere blazing fire
place can? Indeed. ministerng deli
catcly to the senses of the welcomed
guest. what is this at best but a kind
IF preliminary for making him comfort
able and setting at his ease: while the
)nlY begins when bright. sunny wei
'ome is extended TO the wisest, witt est.
sweetest. and most charming elements
n mans mind and heart? Perhaps
10 has no great measure OF any of
hese. Wei, then. 10 bring out the
'est he has in him and help him to set
t in the best light
More than one of the wiscst and
-reatest of men have put on record that
hey never yet met anyone i'm life from
whom they could not learn something.
'ow. what clear comfort for any poor
DOL of fellow Ike the most of Us TO
ave been the guest of one Of these
,eHtonS or Bacons and to have seen
he fine smile of satifaction light mp his
ionderfui face at our actually telling
i'm something new and interesting.
We would remember the fact years al
n we had forgotten whether the bed
c gave Us was hard or soft or the steak
,ndcr or tough. Indeed. it can be de-
ended on that no home ever gets tho
est kind of houSe-warming till it has
ecome Il place which friends long to
ock because they feel that an atmos-
here prcvadcs it in which they talk
etter, laugh more cheerfuly. revel
ore freely in their richest sentiments
IAN they can anywhere else. For
clcome after this fashion they will for
Ike the downiest of couchcs and tho
ost delicate of viands and 90 gladly
here. though the fare is scanter, the
'spitality toward thought and feeling
50 thousandfold more cordial. Dos.
70 Herdld
Waplau Nvhn Uoar T;o,bf ShOo.